Boston founder Tom Scholz has released a heartfelt statement mourning the death of his longtime bandmate Tommy DeCarlo, who passed away at 60 after a battle with brain cancer. DeCarlo was diagnosed six months prior to his death and had been a central figure in Boston’s continued success following the 2007 passing of lead singer Brad Delp.

DeCarlo’s Impact on Boston’s Legacy

According to Scholz, DeCarlo’s role as Boston’s lead vocalist was key to the band’s survival and resurgence. In a statement shared with USA TODAY on March 9, Scholz described DeCarlo as a “gifted artist” who “did not deserve to be cut down at such a young age.”

“This morning Tommy lost his fight with cancer. Everyone who has heard Tommy sing on stage, or on BOSTON albums, knows what a gifted artist he was, but few know how hard he worked to fill that role of BOSTON’s lead vocalist, and to turn himself into a top-tier live performer – or more importantly, what a dedicated father he was to his children,” Scholz wrote.

DeCarlo, who was born in upstate New York, had a Cinderella-like journey from a Home Depot employee in North Carolina to becoming the frontman of his favorite band in the 2000s. He began listening to Boston at age 12 and eventually became a fan of Brad Delp, who died by suicide on March 9, 2007.

From Home Depot to Boston’s Frontman

According to DeCarlo’s Spotify artist profile, he started recording covers while working at a North Carolina Home Depot as a credit manager and posting them on his daughter’s MySpace page. It was after writing a song in tribute to Delp that he finally caught the band’s attention.

“With my daughter’s encouragement, I posted the track on MySpace and sent the link to the band, along with an offer to perform it at their upcoming tribute show,” DeCarlo’s profile stated.

Scholz recalled hearing DeCarlo’s cover of “Don’t Look Back” and being shocked by the singer’s talent and resemblance to Delp’s voice. “My wife was at her computer playing our tunes, and I asked her whether it was us playing live. She said, ‘It’s some guy in North Carolina singing your songs.’ I said, ‘I know Brad’s voice, and that’s Brad,'” Scholz told USA TODAY in 2008.

“She turned it up, and only when I heard the backing track did I know it wasn’t us,” he added. DeCarlo went on to perform at a tribute concert for Delp, which took place at what was then known as the Bank of America Pavilion.

Legacy and Upcoming Commemorations

DeCarlo performed with Boston for more than a decade after taking over vocals from Delp, and his impact on the band’s legacy was profound. Scholz described the experience of performing with DeCarlo as “downright eerie,” noting that he often forgot it was not Delp on stage.

“During rehearsals, it can get downright eerie. I forget it’s not Brad. It makes me feel like someone was at work up there,” Scholz said.

Boston’s most recent musical circuit was the 2017 Hyper Space Tour, and this year, the band is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its self-titled debut album on August 25. The album, which features hits like “More Than a Feeling” and “Peace of Mind,” is one of the best-selling debut albums in U.S. history.

The band’s legacy continues to grow, and DeCarlo’s contributions remain an integral part of Boston’s story. His death has left a void in the band’s lineup, but his influence will be remembered for years to come.